Method and apparatus for providing contextual based searches

Abstract

An approach is presented for providing contextual based searches. A contextual query platform processes at least one query to parse one or more terms associated with at least one contextual parameter. The platform further determines one or more values and/or one or more probabilities associated with the one or more values for the at least one contextual parameter based on one or more probabilistic models associated with the at least one contextual parameter. The platform further compares the one or more values and/or the one or more probabilities against at least one threshold criteria. The platform further determines whether to process the at least one query using the one or more values, to generate a recommendation for using the one or more values, to determine one or more alternate values, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the comparison.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:
 a processing of at least one query to cause, at least in part, a parsing of one or more terms associated with at least one contextual parameter; 
 a processing of the one or more terms to determine one or more values, one or more probabilities associated with the one or more values, or a combination thereof for the at least one contextual parameter based, at least in part, on one or more probabilistic models associated with the at least one contextual parameter; 
 a processing of a total number of words associated with the one or more terms, the at least one contextual parameter, or a combination thereof to determine at least one threshold criteria; 
 a comparison of the one or more values, the one or more probabilities, or a combination thereof against the at least one threshold criteria; and 
 a determination of whether to process the at least one query using the one or more values, to generate a recommendation for using the one or more values, to determine one or more alternate values, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the comparison. 
 
     
     
       2. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more probabilistic models include one or more unigram structures. 
     
     
       3. A method of  claim 2 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 one or more path probabilities associated with respective paths of the one or more unigram structures; and 
 an evaluation of the one or more terms against the respective paths to determine the one or more values, the one or more probabilities, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more path probabilities. 
 
     
     
       4. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 a processing of one or more attributes common to the one or more values, the one or more alternate values, or a combination thereof to generate at least one index, 
 wherein the determining of the one or more values, the one or more alternative values, or a combination thereof is further based, at least in part, on the at least one index. 
 
     
     
       5. A method of  claim 4 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 a number of words associated with the one or more values, the one or more alternate values, the one or more terms, or a combination thereof is below a minimum value, 
 wherein the determining of whether to process the at least one query using the one or more values, to generate the recommendation for using the one or more values, or a combination thereof is further based, at least in part, on the at least one index. 
 
     
     
       6. A method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one index is based on a baseline attribute value, an attribute value of the one or more values, an attribute value of the one or more alternate values, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       7. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more values are determined based, at least in part, on a first letter of the one or more the terms. 
     
     
       8. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 a determination that the total number of words associated with the one or more terms, the at least one contextual parameter, or a combination thereof is below a minimum value, 
 wherein the at least one threshold criteria applies for above the minimum value. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one contextual parameter includes, at least one location parameter, and the one or more values identifies, at least in part, a location. 
     
     
       10. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 a determination to cause, at least in part, a presentation of the one or more alternate values for selection; and 
 a determination whether to process the at least one query using the one or more alternate values, to generate a recommendation for using the one or more alternate values, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on a selected one of the one or more alternate values. 
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, 
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 process and/or facilitate a processing of at least one query to cause, at least in part, a parsing of one or more terms associated with at least one contextual parameter; 
 process and/or facilitate a processing of the one or more terms to determine one or more values, one or more probabilities associated with the one or more values, or a combination thereof for the at least one contextual parameter based, at least in part, on one or more probabilistic models associated with the at least one contextual parameter; 
 process and/or facilitate a processing of a number of words associated with the one or more terms, the at least one contextual parameter, or a combination thereof to determine at least one threshold criteria; 
 cause, at least in part, a comparison of the one or more values, the one or more probabilities, or a combination thereof against the at least one threshold criteria; and 
 determine whether to process the at least one query using the one or more values, to generate a recommendation for using the one or more values, to determine one or more alternate values, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the comparison. 
 
 
     
     
       12. An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more probabilistic models include one or more unigram structures. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine one or more path probabilities associated with respective paths of the one or more unigram structures; and 
 cause, at least in part, an evaluation of the one or more terms against the respective paths to determine the one or more values, the one or more probabilities, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more path probabilities. 
 
     
     
       14. An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 process and/or facilitate a processing of one or more attributes common to the one or more values, the one or more alternate values, or a combination thereof to generate at least one index, 
 wherein the determining of the one or more values, the one or more alternative values, or a combination thereof is further based, at least in part, on the at least one index. 
 
     
     
       15. An apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine that a number of words associated with the one or more values, the one or more alternate values, the one or more terms, or a combination thereof is below a minimum value, 
 wherein the determining of whether to process the at least one query using the one or more values, to generate the recommendation for using the one or more values, or a combination thereof is further based, at least in part, on the at least one index. 
 
     
     
       16. An apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one index is based on a baseline attribute value, an attribute value of the one or more values, an attribute value of the one or more alternate values, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more values are determined based, at least in part, on a first letter of the one or more the terms. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine that the total number of words associated with the one or more terms, the at least one contextual parameter, or a combination thereof is below a minimum value, 
 wherein the at least one threshold criteria applies for above the minimum value. 
 
     
     
       19. An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one contextual parameter includes, at least one location parameter, and the one or more values identifies, at least in part, a location. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine to cause, at least in part, a presentation of the one or more alternate values for selection; and 
 determine whether to process the at least one query using the one or more alternate values, to generate a recommendation for using the one or more alternate values, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on a selected one of the one or more alternate values.